Shona Cawley1,2, Daniel McCartney2, Jayne V Woodside3, Mary Rose Sweeney4, Robert McDonnell5, Anne M Molloy6, Michael J Turner1. 1. UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 2. School Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin, Ireland. 3. CRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Northern Ireland, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland. 4. School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin Ireland. 5. Health Intelligence Unit, Dr Steevens Hospital, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland. 6. School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
Background: We examined the relationship between timing and duration of folic acid (FA) supplementation in achieving red blood cell (RBC) folate levels in early pregnancy which are optimal (>906 nmol/l) for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). Methods: Clinical, FA supplementation and dietary folate details were computerized at the first antenatal visit. Maternal blood samples were analysed for RBC and serum folate. Results: Of the 502 women, 98.2% (n = 493) reported taking FA. There was a positive correlation between duration of supplementation and both RBC folate (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) and serum folate (rho = 0.29, P < 0.001). The optimal RBC folate level was achieved in 80.4% (n = 46) of women who started FA 400 μg 4-8 weeks before their LMP compared with only 53.6% (n = 153) in women who started 4-8 weeks after their LMP (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides, for the first time, information on both the timing and duration of FA that will achieve the optimum RBC folate levels associated with the prevention of NTDs. Women who are taking FA (400 μg) need to start before they conceive.
Background: We examined the relationship between timing and duration of folic acid (FA) supplementation in achieving red blood cell (RBC) folate levels in early pregnancy which are optimal (>906 nmol/l) for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). Methods: Clinical, FA supplementation and dietary folate details were computerized at the first antenatal visit. Maternal blood samples were analysed for RBC and serum folate. Results: Of the 502 women, 98.2% (n = 493) reported taking FA. There was a positive correlation between duration of supplementation and both RBC folate (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) and serum folate (rho = 0.29, P < 0.001). The optimal RBC folate level was achieved in 80.4% (n = 46) of women who started FA 400 μg 4-8 weeks before their LMP compared with only 53.6% (n = 153) in women who started 4-8 weeks after their LMP (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides, for the first time, information on both the timing and duration of FA that will achieve the optimum RBC folate levels associated with the prevention of NTDs. Women who are taking FA (400 μg) need to start before they conceive.
Authors: Joan K Morris; Marie-Claude Addor; Elisa Ballardini; Ingeborg Barisic; Laia Barrachina-Bonet; Paula Braz; Clara Cavero-Carbonell; Elly Den Hond; Ester Garne; Miriam Gatt; Martin Haeusler; Babak Khoshnood; Nathalie Lelong; Agnieszka Kinsner-Ovaskainen; Sonja Kiuru-Kuhlefelt; Kari Klungsoyr; Anna Latos-Bielenska; Elizabeth Limb; Mary T O'Mahony; Isabelle Perthus; Anna Pierini; Judith Rankin; Anke Rissmann; Florence Rouget; Gerardine Sayers; Antonin Sipek; Sarah Stevens; David Tucker; Christine Verellen-Dumoulin; Hermien E K de Walle; Diana Wellesley; Wladimir Wertelecki; Eva Bermejo-Sanchez Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2021-06-24 Impact factor: 3.418